Tempting the Footman (House of Devon #5) - Lauren Smith Page 0,6

her north to bear the child in secret.

Adrian had lived with his mother in Northumberland until he was nineteen, doing his best to earn a living working in a local tavern. When his mother had died of a fever, he’d been left to make his way in the world alone.

He had gone to Stratford’s home only once, bearing the letter his mother had written in her final hours. The duke had refused to see him. Instead, he’d been given a letter that he was not allowed to read and an address of where he was to go. That was how he had shown up on Lord Devon’s doorstep, weary, hungry, in threadbare clothes, and desperate for work. Mr. Reeves had been skeptical of him, like any good butler would be, yet he still had delivered the letter from Lord Stratford to his master.

Adrian remembered how he’d wanted so desperately to be let inside and to rest. Half an hour later, Mr. Reeves had let him enter through the infamous green baize doorway that marked the servants’ domain at Hartland Abbey. From that day to this, he had been welcomed by the other staff and had become a favorite of the house.

He was of an age close to the children of the house, and his attractive features, ones he had inherited from his mother, made him a talking piece of any visiting ladies and even a few men. His height, well over six feet, and his dark hair and amber eyes put him in a unique position—both intensely desirable and completely untouchable.

It was one thing for houseguests to partake in physical pleasures with one another, but servants could not engage with each other, let alone the guests. Adrian had only had a handful of lovers in the last few years, and all of those had been young women who lived and worked in the nearby village. Some had called him a heartbreaker, but he’d done his best to let each young woman down gently when it had been time to part ways.

A life in service was a lonely one, and Adrian felt that now more than ever as the coaches began to arrive. He stared almost forlornly at the first coach rattling down the road toward him. How many times had he stood there waiting for coaches like this? How many years would he continue to live here at the Abbey, answering the calls of the highborn gentry?

He and half a dozen other footmen, along with Mr. Reeves, stood ready to greet the first coach as it made a slow arc in front of the house and stopped before the door.

The coach was a lovely dark blue with bright yellow accents. Four horses pulled it, all matching bays of exquisite health and form. The stable master, Mr. Fredrickson, would be delighted to house such handsome beasts. Adrian had listened to him wax on about horses for hours at the servants’ table on more than one night. The man knew good horseflesh when he saw it.

At a nod from Mr. Reeves, Adrian approached the coach door. He unfolded the step and turned the handle, ready to assist whoever came out.

A silver cane jutted out, followed by the silver hair of an older woman. She wore a dark-blue gown, much like the coach she rode in. She accepted Adrian’s outstretched hand, and he was careful to assist her down once he realized that she was a rather delicate lady. The woman turned a pair of dark-brown eyes on him.

“Lord, I sometimes forget how handsome you devils are. Lady Devon has rather good taste in footmen, don’t you agree?” This last comment was directed at whoever was inside the coach behind her.

Adrian remained impassive as the older woman released his hand and headed toward the house. He turned his attention to whoever was still inside and froze at the sight of a lovely blonde-haired creature with dark-brown eyes. Her face was flushed as she placed her gloved hand in his.

“Please forgive my grandmother. She is forthright at the best of times and can be quite impertinent when she knows she can get away with it.” The young lady, for she was indeed younger than him, had a soft, sweet voice—neither too girlish nor too deep.

Adrian almost forgot to release her hand after she stepped down onto the ground. He wasn’t used to guests speaking directly to him unless they were giving an order, and he certainly wasn’t used to a pretty young lady talking